UTSA public administration alumna Amanda Onochie wants to strengthen society
Amanda Onochie was part of the second graduating class of the UTSA Department of Administration's bachelor of public administration program
Amanda Onochie was part of the second graduating class of the UTSA Department of Administration's bachelor of public administration program
Share this Story(Jan. 13, 2016) -- Meet Amanda Onochie '13. This UTSA alumna will be strengthening non-profit organizations in the Republic of Georgia as part of the Peace Corps.
Onochie, a certified non-profit professional (CNP), will soon begin working as a non-governmental organization (NGO) advisor for Georgia's Individual and Organizational Development sector. As a member of UTSA's second graduating class to earn a bachelor's degree in public administration, she'll be putting all the skills she gained to good use.
"In my role as an NGO advisor, I'll be advising non-profits on their community impact and helping build up the professional skills of their staff," Onochie said, adding that she's thrilled to be able to help non-profit organizations fulfill their goals.
Onochie, a native of League City, Texas, enrolled at UTSA in 2009 as an architecture major in the College of Architecture, Construction and Planning. But the pull of a career in the non-profit sector brought her to the fledgling bachelor's of public administration program in the College of Public Policy.
"I've always felt the pull of non-profit life, but I didn't know right away how to translate that into a career," she said. "But then I heard about the Bachelor of Public Administration program, and it was exactly what I was looking for."
Growing up, Onochie always believed that serving and helping the public was her calling. While other 8-year-olds dreamed of being astronauts or princesses, she fantasized about creating a shelter that could teach trade skills to the homeless. At 13, she began studying homelessness and working to support her family.
"I remember being eight years old and unknowingly thinking about non-profit organizations and how I could positively impact the world," she said. "I had a strong work ethic that I wanted to focus on helping others."
Leading up to the beginning of her term with the Peace Corps later this year, Onochie will continue to work as a community health worker for the City of San Antonio's metropolitan health department, where she’s worked for the last several years. In this role, she bridges communication between Westside San Antonio residents and agencies to address health needs in their communities. Before that, she helped City Year San Antonio lower the city's dropout rate. She received her CNP certification through the Non-Profit Leadership Alliance.
"Through my time at UTSA and my work in the community, I really got a firm grasp in not just the theories of public administration but how they fit together and impact the community," she said, adding that the public administration degree has bolstered her competitiveness as a CNP.
After Onochie's two terms with the Peace Corps are finished, she wants to pursue a master's degree in international peace and conflict resolution or sustainable development/sustainable advocacy, and perhaps one day join the U.S Foreign Service.
Onochie credits the UTSA Department of Public Administration for providing her with the skills she needs to succeed in her career.
"My time at UTSA served me well," she said. "The College of Public Policy is where I learned about the inner workings of non-profits, fundraising and grant writing. These are invaluable skills that I can take with me as I venture forth in my career."
By Michelle Skidmore
Senior Communications Specialist, College of Public Policy
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Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.
